Level.



D. MUNEIL.

LEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED 00125, 1913. 1, 1 1 3,805. A Patented 001;. 13, 1914I x \o\ -i\\ @gg R,

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UNITED STATES DONALD MONEIL, 0F HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA.

LEVEL. 1

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 1e, 1914.

Application led October 25, 1913. Serial No. 797,310.

To all whom t may] concern:

Be it known that I, DONALD MCNEIL, subject of the King of England, residing at Halifax, in the Province of Nova Scotia and Dominion of Canada, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Levels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in spirit levels such as are commonly used by carpenters, brick-layers and other mechanics, the invention having for its primary object to provide improved means for positively securing the spirit tube in position in the body of the level and absolutely preventing all possibility of the same being tampered with and moved out of its proper adjusted position.

rThe invention has for another and very important object to provide means associatednvith each of the spirit tubes whereby the position of the quicksilver bulb therein may be fi easily discerned when the instrument is empl/byed in darkened or shadowed places.

The invention has for a still further object to generally improve the construction and increase the utility of devices of the above character whereby the same are rendered more serviceable and efficient in use, without materially increasing their manufacturing cost.

With the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists certain constructions, vcombinations and arrangements of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For agfull understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spirit level embodying the present invention; Fig.

2 is a similar view of the reverse side there\y of; Fig. 3 is an edge view; Fig. 4: is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the body of the level whichy is constructed(` fjwood, of suitable length and to each end of the same, a wear plate 6 is countersunk in one of its longitudinal edges. A metal plate or strip 7 is also secured to the opposite longitudinal edge of the body 5 and extends the entire length thereof, said metal plate having angular ends 8 secured to the end edges of the body 5. To each side of said body, and between the edges ofthe plates 6 and 7, a metal plate 9 is countersunk therein. To the ends 8 of the plate 7, suitable rings or loops 10 are atthe instrument may be suspended from a nail or hook.

l In the body 5l adjacent each end thereof, ari/opening 11 is formed, and in each of these openings, a brass sleeve or bushing 12 is secured, each of said sleeves being providedwith an annular flange 13 which is countersunk in the face of the body 5 and secured thereto by means of suitable screws 14. These sleeves or bushings extend inwardly from the opposite sides of the body 5 and between the inner ends thereof a spacing disk 15 is arranged. Disks 16 of mirror glass are disposed upon opposite sides ofv this spacing disk and between the same and the inner ends of the respective sleeves 12. In the opening 11 and adjacent to each of the mirrors 16, a spirit tube 17 is arranged. These tubes extend at right angles to each other, as will be clearly seen from reference to Fig. 4 and the wall of the .opening 11 at diametrically opposite points is provided with notches or recesses 18 to receive plaster of Paris or other suitable plastic binding material indicated at 19 in which the ends of the tubes 17 are embedded. The ends of the tubesare also disposed in edges of the sleeves 12. The body 5 of the longitudinal edges and centrally thereof with an elongated recess 20 to receive a comparatively long spirit tube 21. In the base of the recess 20, at each end thereof a wood screw 22 is threaded, and upon the heads of these screws, the ends of the tube 21 are adapted to be seated. In placing the tube in position, the screws 22 are first properly salutely level position which is essential to the accuracy of the instrument in use, and plaster of Paris or, other plastic binding agent indicated at 23 is then poured over the ends ofthe tube and the heads of the screws 22, so that access can not be had to ysaid screws. A face plate 2-'1 is countersunk in the edge of the body 5 over the recess 20 and secured thereto by means of 4suitable screws 25. This plate is provided suitable notches or recesses formed in thev tached in any preferred manner `whereby instrument is further provided in one of its adjusted so as to dispose the tube in an abl l tion of llight from said mirrors.

with an elongated opening 26 through which the bulb of the tube 2l may be easily viewed.

It will be apparent from this construction, that after the tube 21 has been secured in position within the instrument body, in the manner stated, its proper adjusted position can not be altered by maliciously inclined persons, so that the accuracy of the instrument in use is assured. In the recess 2O upon the tube 2l, a plate kof mirror glass 27 is arranged.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction and several advantages of my improved spirit level will be clearly and fully understood. By the provision of the mirror disks 16, behind each of the spirit tubes, the position of the silver bulb in said tube may be readily discerned when the instrument is used in shadowed or darkened places Where the light is poor, by the reflec- It will thus be apparent that the serviceability of such instruments in actual use is greatly increased. I have arrived at the above f noted-desirable result and overcome deficiencies existing in such instruments now lmown in the art, without materially complicating the construction of the same or increasing its manufacturing cost.

It will be understood that in the practical development of the invention, I do not desire to be limited to the particular form, construction and arrangement of the several elements above described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing and reserve the right to resort to all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention, as claimed. tj

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A spirit level comprising a body prof vided with a recess, a spirit tube arranged in said recess, adjustable means mounted in the body over which the enus of said tube extend and upon which the tube is wholly supported, and a plastic binding agent disposed over the ends of the tube and said adjusting means to prevent access to the adjusting means.

2. A spirit level comprising a body provided With a recess, a spirit tube arranged in said recess, fiat head screws threaded in the body at opposite ends of the recess, the ends of the tube extending over and entirely covering the heads of said screws, said screws supporting the tube in spaced relation to the base of the recess, and a plastic binding agent disposed over the ends of the tube and the screw heads to prevent access to the latter.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DONALD MCNEIL. 

